How to Bath a Python

By Dianne Kienholz

I have had my Python for a number of years and decided it was time to give it a bath. I must warn you that precaution should be taken when attempting this. There should be another person available if a need for help arises.

Cautiously entice your python out of its secured home. Once you've got a good hold on it, coil, pull, drag or what ever it takes to get it to the bathroom. Now if you were smart you would have already filled the tub 3/4 of the way with luke warm water. If the water is to cold he will be to stiff to handle, water to hot and he becomes like a large wet noodle and very unmanageable. You will also want to put in approximately a cup of bleach. This is to clean all the gunk from his inners. Make sure you wear old clothing that wouldn't matter if you get water splashed upon it.

Starting with one end or the other. Slowly slide your python into the tub making sure it sinks to the bottom of the tub and there are no bubbles left coming out from the other end. If you want, throw a plastic plant or two in with your python, if any thing just to keep it company. Quickly shut the sliding glass doors. Oops, you don't have doors on your tub? Well if you have a well-trained python it will stay put for the half-hour or so it takes to soak him. If by chance you forget him for a day or so, don't worry pythons are good at staying under water for long times. (As long as all the air is out of them)

Pull the plug and drain the water from the tub. Slowly lift one end of your python. Coiling him on your arm or around your neck (this is why old clothes are worn) or even on the floor. (Warning: don't leave him half in and half out of the tub and run off to answer the phone or door. He could very well drain your tub out onto your floor as retaliation for leaving him alone). If this process is to slow wait till the water has drained from the tub, then give mouth to snout and blow, till most of the water has drained out from the other end.

Now you will need to run luke warm water from the tap directly into one end of you python. Once again drain him and re-run clean water through him. Don't forget to rinse your plants well also. After draining him a second time, coil, drag, pull him back to his home. You'll now have one clean sparkling python (*) ready for your next water change and tank cleaning. For those of you that might be hesitant about bleach, grab one or two of those many bottles of anti-bleach stuff you always seem to get in those grab bags at auctions or Fish-O. After draining both tub and python, refill the tub with water and put that stuff in. Your python might have to soak awhile again, but he won't wrinkle.

Happy Bathing

* Your tub will also be sparkling and fresh.